Broken Martin guitars become art for charity

August 06, 2010|By John J. Moser, OF THE MORNING CALL

Eight Martin guitars damaged during shipping but rescued and turned into fine art to be auctioned off for charity were unveiled Friday as part of the fifth Annual Martin Owners Club event at the company factory and museum in Nazareth.

Festivities will continue Saturday with the third annual "Martin on Main" event held by Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce and The UMGF: Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, which will feature a day-long music and arts celebration bringing local merchants, vendors and more than two dozen performers on stages throughout the borough.

The "art guitars" started with a request by Nancy Josephson, singer/songwriter with Angel Band and the wife of folk icon David Bromberg, to embellish one of the instruments, which normally would have been destroyed. After completing her bejeweled guitar, Josephson enlisted seven other artists to do the same.

The guitars are on display this weekend, after which they'll be in the Martin museum collection until being auctioned off to benefit restoration of the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Del., where Josephson lives, and the C. F. Martin Charitable Foundation.

Josephson said it was "sheer joy" to "apply our art upon the wonderful facades of Martin guitars."

More than 1,400 members of the Martin Owners Club and are expected in Nazareth this weekend. Friday's event included first looks at new guitars and product demonstrations, guitar clinics, factory and museum tours, music and other entertainment.